Week 14 is about to begin and there are some interesting matchups that should have an effect on the Standings in the West Division, as well as the CFL Power Rankings. The Saskatchewan Roughriders visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is definitely my top pick for game of the week! In the East, the Argos are comfortably in 1st place, with Montreal, Ottawa and Hamilton all in the fight for 2nd. Last week, @TheBrysh was 3/4 on straight up picks, bringing the season total to 34/51, or a respectable 67%.
BC Lions (-3.5) @ Montreal Alouettes
The 8-2 BC Lions are back from a week off, and are heading to Montreal to take on the 4-7 Alouettes. These teams have not met in the 2022 CFL season, the outcome has implications for both teams as they look to improve their standings. The Lions are still without star QB Nathan Rourke, will proxy QB’s Antonio Pipkin and Michael O’Connor be the answer? The Alouettes blew their homefield advantage in an upset loss last week to Ottawa 38-24. Will BC solve their quarterback situation? Will the Al’s rebound from a disappointing loss last week? BC is favoured by 3.5 points, I predict 34-28 Lions over Alouettes.
Toronto Argonauts (-2.0) @ Ottawa Redblacks
The 6-5 Toronto Argonauts are taking on a spry 3-8 Ottawa Redblacks squad in week 14. The Redblacks have momentum after a surprise victory over the Alouettes, The Argos also won as underdogs last week in Hamilton. The Argonauts are favoured to win this contest, but Redblacks QB Nick Arbuckle is coming off of a 313 yard game with a 65% completion ratio. These teams met in week 8, where the underdog Redblacks beat the Argo’s 23-13. This week I am not expecting an Ottawa repeat, they have yet to win a game at TD Place this season. I am going with the Argonauts 39-28.
Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-7.5)
After a valiant Saskatchewan effort against the 1st place Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the Labour Day Classic, Riders fans are hoping for a revenge victory this week. Riders QB Cody Fajardo looked great last week with 292 yards passing, completing 23 of 32 for a 72% rate. Fajardo did have one interception, but ran in a TD himself. The Blue Bombers are notoriously hard to beat at IG Field, and Winnipeg has bested the Riders in their last 5 meetings. The Roughriders have rid themselves of the excess baggage of “penalty hog” Garrett Marino, but it doesn’t give them a sizeable edge so I take the Blue Bombers 27-17.
Calgary Stampeders @ Edmonton Elks
Calgary and Edmonton face off again in a repeat of last week, where the visiting Elks put up a good struggle, but succumbed to the hometown Stampeders 26-18. This time Edmonton enjoys the homefield advantage at Commonwealth Stadium. Quarterbacking may be the key question this week, for both teams. The Stampeders can’t decide between franchise passer Bo Levi Mitchell, or backup QB Jake Maier. The Elks appear to be without QB Kenny Lawler due to an ankle injury suffered in week 12 against the Redblacks. Replacement QB Taylor Cornelius is definitely improving, but his consistency has yet to be verified. I’m gonna stick with the Stamps 33-21.
